Thursday, July 22, 2010

...from 2001: First Place prize of $50 plus publication in I Love Cats magazine. I figured retyping it here would be a good idea.

"Pumpkin Marigold! Wake up! This is your day ... it's Halloween!" As the little orange cat untucked her head, blinked, stood up and stretched, the sun peeked through the window, shining on her beautiful fur. Pumpkin Marigold jumped off the bed and scurried out to the kitchen for breakfast. "Halloween?" she thought. "I always thought Halloween was for black cats." Her person read PM's thoughts.

"Sometimes Halloweenis for black cats. But your name is Pumpkin, your color is orange, and Halloween fun is about orange pumpkins!"

Then her person showed something to PM. It was the costume she'd be wearing to the neighborhood pet party. As PM looked at the outfit, she started to purr. Louder and louder. Putting both paws onto her person's legs and contentedly running her head, the cute Halloween cat skipped into the black cat costume And later that day, Pumpkin Marigold faced all the cameras with pride as everyone took her picture. She's won the "Best Costume" award at the pet party.

"This really is my day ... it's Halloween," mewed the pumpkin-colored cat to her whole world.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I'll definitely go back for more to Boomerangs, San Diego, CA, where bright southwestern-hued paint and streams of natural light surrounded us from the moment we entered the building; as we enjoyed lunch, succulent burgers and accompaniments tantalized us. The website insists, "Boomerangs is the place for you. We make all of our burgers with 100% Angus beef with the freshest ingredients and our handmade sides are a must try!"

To create your own burger, you get to add any three toppings and mixers, one cheese and one homemade side to a basic 1/3, 1/2 or 3/4 pound Angus burger. Besides beef, there are additional non-vegetarian plus portabello mushroom or veggie burger options. The website displays most of the menu items we got to choose from in the restaurant. Prices are modest for such fresh excellence; due to its quality and the fact it didn't shrink much during cooking the 1/3 pound burger was so substantial I'd have been happy to be able choose a smaller, quarter-pounder, especially since the sides added more substance.

Paintings by San Diego-based artist Mark Smith arrayed themselves on the walls; Jose, our server explained the art was for sale but Boomerangs had the privilege of borrowing them for a spontaneous exhibit until they were sold.

If you're not too far from the San Diego area beaches it's worth a trip to Clairemont for lunch at Boomerangs. The restaurant is open every day of the week, so you can't miss. Other features include daily happy hour from 4 to 7 and brunch on Sundays from 10 to 2 with "free-flowing champagne and mimosas," fresh fruit and salads, hot entrees, omelets and desserts.